DeAndre Hopkins is gone. Who knows when Kyler Murray will retake the field. This offense is in trouble entering 2023, especially when compared with where the Arizona Cardinals stood only two years ago. So where does that leave one of their lone offensive bright spots, Rondale Moore? Could he become a weekly fantasy football asset and lead this team in targets?
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Rondale Moore’s Recent Seasons
A 2021 second-round draft pick, Moore joined a highly talented offense that was about to get much better. That year, Arizona was the last undefeated team at 7-0 and missed moving to 8-0 after A.J. Green inexplicably didn’t turn around in the end zone. They were one of a handful of Super Bowl favorites.
During Moore’s first 12 months in the league, the Cards traded for TE Zach Ertz and WR Marquise Brown. They were going all-in, and as a result, Moore frequently was on the outside looking in. Because when you have Murray, Hopkins, Brown, Ertz, and a TD-friendly running back like James Conner, how exactly does a second-round prospect find his groove?
The short answer is that his fantasy value was tied to the injuries and suspensions that hit the top playmakers. As a distant No. 3 WR, he was no better than the No. 5 or No. 6 offensive option. But in a decimated offense, he could become a primary target.
We witnessed this five times last season — five games where he secured 8+ targets. In each of those contests, either Hopkins or Brown was sidelined. In his highest-volume game (13 targets), Ertz exited early, leading Moore and Hopkins to combine for a 73% target share.
This cannot be overstated. At this stage in his career, Moore is only as valuable as the Cardinals are receiver-needy. As a top-two or even a top-three option, he can thrive. He did it last year. He can do it again.
Rondale Moore’s 2023 Expectations
In a league where change is inevitable and sometimes imminent, Arizona enters 2023 in an entirely different situation — one that could not have been foreseen when this franchise went big on a speedy receiver with solid long-term upside. While his small frame might forever cap his ceiling, Moore possesses enough after-the-catch electricity to lessen the need for a superb quarterback.
In other words, with Murray expected to miss a chunk of this season, Moore’s value shouldn’t take a significant hit. As a frequent quick-out option, Colt McCoy — or whoever’s throwing to him — should be able to connect and let Moore do the rest.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Ertz looms, as does future starting TE Trey McBride. Brown and Greg Dortch will push Moore for targets, with Brown obviously serving as the de facto No. 1 WR to start the year.
But Brown plays a different kind of game than Moore does. In one full game with Hopkins and Murray last season, Brown caught six of eight passes (75%) for 46 yards. With Murray getting knocked out for the year early in the next game, Brown wrapped up the season catching 18 of 35 targets (51%) for 178 yards across five contests.
While a small sample size, we also witnessed Brown flail with backup QBs in Baltimore the year before, reeling in 21 of 39 targets (54%) for 142 yards in four contests. Brown needs a great quarterback to help elevate him.
That’s not to say Moore doesn’t. But again, the young WR can manufacture his own yards more effectively, and that should come in handy for whoever’s under center.
In the end, Brown and Moore are best positioned to lead Arizona in targets in 2023. The sooner Murray returns, the higher the probability that Brown finishes No. 1. And if the Cards throw in the towel in 2023 and preserve Murray as much as possible until they can field a more competitive team in 2024, then the advantage will go to Moore.
